Billie Sucher Blog

The Cowboy and The Cables

It’s not what you’ve got, it’s what you use that makes a difference. ~ Zig Ziglar

As my daughter and I got in our vehicle to leave a busy Chicago parking lot last week-end, the vehicle would not start. While the engine turned over twice, that was it – no more juice in the battery. Dead and done. We looked at each other and I immediately recalled a conversation with my son over his battery incident a few weeks ago when the person he found to help him was a “cowboy in a pick-up truck.”

My daughter suggested we call AAA.

And I suggested, let’s look for a cowboy in a pick-up truck. That’s what your brother did and he had great success.

She looked at me like I was losing it.

While we didn’t see any cowboys, we did see a Chevy blazer with a guy wearing a hunting cap.

About 20 feet in front of us.

Wondering if you have any jumper cables, I inquired? 

Doubt it, but let me check.

His check produced a mini-pair.

Hooked up the jumper cables.

Vehicle turned over instantly.

There you go, the guy in the hunting cap said.

What do we owe you for your help?

Not a thing, he stated. Happy to help.

As this holiday season gets underway, there is no better time than now to show your gratitude and appreciation to those who go the extra mile to help.

Maybe it’s the guy in the hunting cap in the Chevy Blazer in the crazy busy parking lot in Chicago who took time out to help.

Maybe it is your colleague who pitches in when the project overwhelms you.

Maybe it is the recruiter or HR manager who goes out of their way to give you job search ideas.

Maybe it is the person who serves you your latte every morning who smiles at you even on days when you don’t smile back.

Maybe it is your friend who is working three jobs to make things work, yet still listens to you and your stories, regardless of how tired he is.

There are amazing people who are willing to go out of their way to help you succeed and get you where you want to go. They are here, there and everywhere.

We met yet another one last week-end in The Windy City.

Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude. ~ Zig Ziglar

What Is Your Success Rate?

If you are a career management professional and happen to offer professional résumé-writing services, perhaps you have heard this question before. And no, I am not talking about the standard FAQ “how much do you charge?" I am referring to this one:

“What is your success rate?”

As a job seeker looking for résumé-writing assistance, have you asked the above question of a résumé writer?

Here is a response I conjured up in my head that I have not (and would not) share with a prospect:

“My success rate is 99.9%.” 

In a private conversation with self, I then speculated that I would further be asked:

So what about the remaining .1% ?

To which I replied (imaginarily, of course):

“Oh, yes, that – that .1% represents an infinitesimal variable that exists in measuring success rate relevance, applicability and significance in a volatile, changeable, turbulent market.  It’s a new prototype for quality and excellence in the industry, you know – best practices and all.”

What a bunch of gobbledygook. The next time you think about asking a résumé writer about his or her success rate, perhaps you will receive more accurate (and verifiable) information if you ask a few of the questions shared below that may lead you to a résumé writer who is just right for you! Perhaps before you ask the standard questions about how much do you charge and what is your success rate, how about asking:

 ~ Tell me about your credentials.

 ~ What qualifies you to write a résumé?

 ~ What is it like to work with you on a résumé-writing project?

~ Please share with me some compelling reasons I should hire you to write my résumé versus Résumé X, Y or Z Writer.

~ Help me understand your approach to the résumé-writing process?

~ What will you need from me (client) to build a top-notch, knock ‘em dead résumé?

~ How long have you been writing résumés – days? months? years?

~ Are your résumés published and if so, where might I view your work?

~ What are your expectations of me with respect to the résumé-writing process?

~ Describe the types of clients who have used your résumé-writing services?

~ If I Google you, will your company name (or your name) show up on a Rip-off report?

~ What certifications, if any, do you hold?  

~ What type of product will you deliver?

~ Where can I find recommendations from people who have used your services who will attest to your work quality?  

~ How will we work together -- phone? face-to-face? private office? Skype? coffee house? – please clarify.

~ Will I complete forms and questionnaires or is that something you will do for me?

~ What is your turnaround time from start to finish?

~ What are your expectations of me with regard to fees and payment?

~ What might I expect from you?

~ What other questions should I be asking you?

Now, back to the “success rate” question. The success of your résumé – regardless of who writes it, or how talented they are, or how educated they are, or how credentialed they are, or what their fee is, or how published they are, or how famous they are online or off – ultimately rests with you and you alone – as the sole owner of it.

Your job search success lies in what you do with the résumé resource regardless of who crafts it for you. And it lies in what you choose to do to look for work. And it lies in what you do to start over. And what strategies you use to move forward with confidence and commitment. And what you do to build a strong and vibrant network that will sustain you through the highs and lows of today’s chaotic workplace. And what you are willing to sacrifice to get on down the road of life. And how much you are willing to learn and articulate about the product you and your value. The best résumé in the world will do nothing for you if you do nothing for it.  No action; no outcome, regardless of cost, regardless of success rate.

I remember when I first started in business and was advised that I needed to hire a firm to write a “little brochure” if I wanted to be “successful.” I was so naïve at the time that I paid close to $2,000.00 for a little brochure that did not bring me one piece of business. Imagine my surprise (and disappointment). So, I paid the bill and shelved the brochure when someone else advised me that I would need to spend more time on relationship-building than reviewing my four-figure brochure. Ouch! Turns out, that person was a wise one indeed, even though his words were not what I wanted to hear at the time. And to this day, I am grateful for his counsel in offering me one of the single best pieces of advice I have ever received.

The most successful clients I have ever met have not always been the most educated, or experienced, or gifted, or talented, or best-dressed or well-known, or best-looking or most beautiful, or most charismatic, or have the best résumé or the best business brochure. They have, though, consistently embodied many of the following traits and characteristics:  

1. inspired
2. passionate
3. energetic
4. resilient
5. resolute
6. motivated
7. determined
8. persistent
9. consistent
10. driven
11. tireless
12. relationship-builder
13. unflappable
14. unstoppable
15. tenacious
16. focused
17. committed
18. disciplined
19. ambitious
20. flexible
21. adaptable
22. rejection-proof

Your professional résumé is a tool, and a resource that is waiting for you to take action to drive (and deliver) your very own remarkable career success rate. I wish you the very best of luck in doing so.

“The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price.” ~ Vince Lombardi

Gettin' Hitched and Your Job Search

It won’t be long now, and my son and his fiancé will be exchanging their vows. Date set. Plans made. Reservations scheduled. Wedding paraphernalia purchased. Details checked, checked and rechecked. Hours and hours invested in the getting married project.

While I have enjoyed the entire process of helping my son and his bride-to-be, it has been an incredible amount of work. Lists to make and remake, people to contact, dates to confirm, modifications to integrate, duties to execute and information to learn and discover. In the olden days, it took very little time and for sure, a lot less money to get hitched. I vividly recall that as a Baby Boomer bride, the sum total for our entire wedding event equaled $500.00.  Today, it is a vast undertaking of time and resources (of multiple varieties) to get to the nitty-gritty of saying I do.  12 months of preparation for a 20-minute ceremony. The word elope kept flittering across my mind as I was using another word – tulle – to make the billionth bow for the garden ceremony. Tulle, fool, cool, drool, spool, pool, jewel – as you may have discerned, the bow-making process was getting to me! Oh, how I love words!

As I have been helping with the organization and implementation of the approaching wedding, I have also been thinking about job seekers and the similarities between wedding preparation and a career transition project. Here are some questions to consider as you embark upon your own quest for a new beginning from this day forward:

~ Do you have a reasonably good idea of the type of position you desire?

~ Do you have a strong sense of your existing skill set and what, if anything, is missing or needs some fine-tuning?

~ Do you have a thorough understanding of your product and its value to a potential employer?

~ Have you made a list of at least five of your best work-related skills and can you cite them with confidence, as well as deliver concrete examples for each skill claimed?

~ Do you know with specificity what three to five adjectives best describe you and are those particular descriptors aligned with your new target goal?

~ Have you built a vibrant network of invested partners to help you pull off a successful event of landing a new job?

~ Have you followed up with all parties involved in your career transition project to gauge their support of your efforts?  Think: professional references. Think: LinkedIn recommendations. Think: résumé endorsements.  

~ If hiring managers and recruiters mention their concerns about your candidacy, what concerns might be voiced? (Know your liabilities and weaknesses before you go to market).

~ Have you reviewed your career transition project to make certain that you are meeting deadlines and progressing according to schedule?

~ Have you taken time to thank all of the people who have supported your job search efforts?  

~ Are you paying close attention to the details of your transition project or when the big day finally arrives, will the details (and the lack thereof) be your undoing?

~ When the job offer finally arrives, will you take some time to contemplate the proposal, or will you without hesitation give the employer an emphatic I Do?

Whether you are getting married, or getting a new job, it takes time, effort and unwavering commitment to make sure that it will indeed be one of the happiest and best days of your life.

Aren't You Over That Job Loss Thing Yet?

The other day, one of my clients shared that a gainfully employed someone had asked him “Aren’t you over that job loss thing y e t?”

The other day, someone asked me if I was over losing my brother.

Over.

O – v – e – r.

How long does it take to get O V E R something, anyway?

I don’t know the answer, do you?

Maybe getting over job loss or getting over losing someone you love works for you.

I have lost a job and I have lost dear friends and loved ones. For whatever reason, the word over simply does not work – for me. 

For whatever reason, getting on works better.

Not much better, just better.

Getting on makes more sense – to me.

Getting on with it – whatever it is.

Getting on down the road with no map to take you there. 

Getting on to what’s next when you have not one clue.

Getting on without a grip until you find something to grasp. 

Getting on with good-byes.

Getting on with letting go.

Getting on with a comforting word or deed.

Getting on with a willingness to start where you are. 

Getting on with a memory that brings comfort and joy.

Getting on without staying stuck in the past.

Getting on by remembering the best of what was.

Getting on with picking up the pieces.

Getting on with what remains.

Getting on with reconstruction of what’s yet to be.

Getting on with people who care a little.

Getting on with people who care a lot.

Getting on with those who stand strong by your side.

Getting on when you have not one idea what you are getting on to.

Getting on even though you are frightened and afraid.

Getting on without fear and failure dominating decisions.

Getting on through cloudy days and dark nights.

Getting on with a face to the future.

Getting on with a timeout, time away.

Getting on with strength you didn't know you could muster.

Getting on with grace.

Getting on with gratitude.

Getting on when the go back to is gone.

Getting on to a place of peace.

Getting on, going on because you don't  know what else to do.

Happy Holidays From the Heartland

Memories are those moments

Tucked away in your heart.

Somehow they stay with you,

They’re an important part.

 

Of who you once were,

Of what you are now,

Of who you hope to become

Even though you wonder how.

 

Time passes so quickly

The clock’s ticking away

And you say to yourself

Oh, it’s just another day.

 

Well, this day is upon you,

It’s yours for the taking

So prize it immensely

In the plans you are making.

 

We can’t predict the future,

Nor dwell on the past

We can only treasure this moment

And love it while it lasts.

 

And if someone’s touched your life

Or made a difference to you.

Now’s a good time to tell them

If that’s possible to do.

 

Remember, our moments are the magic

And in our dreams dwell the hope

Offering a chance to start anew

As we imagine and we cope.

 

So, celebrate each new day

And find more good than bad

Treat each day as the last

And not the first to be had.

 

Wishing you abundance and joy

Prosperity and peace be with you.

And may life’s richest rewards

Be ever-present with you, too.                          

Copyright 1995, 2011 Billie Sucher

With Bad Advice, Do You Pay the Price?

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

Remember the last time you randomly asked someone for directions to get to a place? Remember how they told you to go down there a couple of blocks, then turn left at the light, go a couple miles that way, make a sharp right and that should do it? Remember how you did that and ended up more lost than ever?

Reminds me of bad directions for a job search. Unfortunately, I have heard quite a few bad directions from job seekers who tell me that their well-intentioned neighbor, friend, cousin, roommate, or stranger told them how to write a resume or told them this or that about finding a job. Some would argue that it really doesn’t matter who tells you what, as long as it works to find new employment.

However, if the counsel you have received doesn’t, didn’t or hasn’t worked for you and you have been between jobs for six, 12, 18, 24, 30+ months or longer, perhaps you might consider the accuracy of the information you’re getting. While it is important to reach out to people to support you, guide you, help you and be by your side in your quest for new employment, it surely doesn’t do you much good if you wind up at the rest stop of the job search trip because you took an exit based on bad directions and/or just because they were free.  

If the directions, free advice, free counsel, and job hunt input you have been given by countless caring people simply isn’t working for you, here’s some more advice and yes, it is also free:

Ask five people for the name of a career management professional in the community / country that (in their opinion) has a good stellar reputation in the industry. If you do not get any names, ask five more people and keep asking until you get a name.

Go to LinkedIn and see if that person has a LinkedIn profile. Read about them. Read their recommendations. Contact someone you may know listed in the pro’s  recommendations; call them and listen closely to their response when you ask them the following questions:

• What did you like best about your experience in working with So and So?
• What, if anything, did you not like about your experience in working with So and So?
• Would you still recommend So and So and would you work with him/her again if you had a career need?
• On a scale of 1 – 10, what number would you give So and So with 1 being very poor and 10 being over the top good?
• Is there anything else about So and So that would be of value to know?

Call the pro(s) whose name(s) you have been given and ask the following questions, well before you ask them about their professional fee structure. (Something to consider:  Would you call a brain surgeon if you desperately needed brain surgery and start the conversation with : “Hello there, how much do you charge?” Probably not, though it happens frequently in the career management industry). Instead, you could engage the pro by asking the following questions before inquiring about their respective fees. It doesn’t take but a few minutes to run through the questions listed below and it could save you precious time (and money) in the long run.

1. What is your background?

2. When did you get started in the business?

3. What population do you serve?

4. What qualifies you to dispense career information?

5. What is your level of success?

6. How will we work together: via phone, IM, in office, Starbucks?

7. What can I expect from you and your services?

8. Why should I choose you over Brand A and Brand B?

9. Help me understand your fee structure and payment requirements.

If you find yourself sitting at a career crossroads still contemplating which road to take next, how about the possibility of seeking professional help, guidance, direction and support? To discover more information about how to find a career coach/counselor in your area, consider reading Appendix B: A Guide to Choosing A Career Coach or Counselor in the book What Color Is Your Parachute – Pages 288-303 in the 2011 Edition.

“The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of a cheap price is forgotten.”

Generations and The Job Search

Remember that interview you just conducted where you told the candidate I have tee-shirts older than you are.

Remember when you called the job seeker sitting before you a whippersnapper?

Remember when you said to the head of the department that he was about your Grandpa’s age?

Remember going to the interview and describing one of your biggest achievements as taking place back in the day.

Remember when you told your HR buddy that the person you just interviewed was still wet behind the ears?

Remember when you went to the interview about a month ago and said the following words to the Gen Y Hiring Manager: Youngsters of today just don’t get it.

Remember when one of your colleagues inquired if you were on LinkedIn and you replied with can’t say that I’ve heard of it.

Remember when you went to that networking event and asked someone about a twit when what you really meant was a tweet?

Remember when the recruiter asked you if you had a blog and you responded with: so what’s a blog?

Remember when the 20-something manager said to you, a Baby Boomer,  I don’t care about your age, I care about commitment and will you show up and do the job.

Past. Present. Future. Generations Global.

Do You GET It?

Earlier today, I presented a session on the subject of blogging for the local Chamber’s Techno Tuesday event. The first part of the program covered the usual stuff one might wish to know about blogging. The second part (much more fun in my opinion) offered each participant an opportunity to write their very first blog post. As attendees were thinking and writing their posts, I, too, was thinking about the post that I wanted to write. I have been thinking about the word get and how much it impacts life. Have you ever considered how such a simple word – get -- can play such a large role in your life, especially if the most recent chapter of your life is consumed with career transition and job search?

Get aboard.

Get about.

Get above it.

Get after it.

Get along.

Get answers.

Get around.

Get at it.

Get away.

Get behind it.

Get beyond it.

Get by it.

Get fit.

Get from it.

Get going.

Get help.

Get hired.

Get in it.

Get into it.

Get it.

Get involved.

Get off it.

Get on it.

Get out of it.

Get over it.

Get past it.

Get smart.

Get through it.

Get to it.

Get up.

Get well.

Get with it.

It's About the Swag

I love the conversations I have with clients as I never know where they will lead. This morning’s conversation led to, among other things, this word:

SWAG

My client was telling me about how now would be a good time to consider cutting his own wasteful spending.

I looked up the definition of swag; for the purposes of this post, here’s one definition:

“products given away free typically for promotional purposes.”

Think about that last convention you attended? How much loot swag did you haul home? Think about the open houses, forums, trade shows, and events where you picked up some swag? How much swag is taking up space in your office right now?

Me, I’m a pen and pencil junkie!

And notebooks and/or notepads.

I still have The Ladders spiral-bound notebook from one of the national career conferences I attended!

I love it! It is a swag favorite!

Swag!

Consider this: in your own practice, business and personal life, what, if any, swag might you cut out? And if you say you have no swag in your professional or personal life, then here are a few more questions to ask yourself:

1. How can I reduce expenses?
2. How can I cut wasteful spending?
3. How can I become more cost efficient?
4. What is the ‘extra’ that needs to go?
5. What might I sacrifice that won’t be missed?

Thanks to my client for helping me think about this subject matter as I gave him one of my free pens.

Swag. 

The Reclamation Project

Let’s say that you lost your job a few weeks ago. Let’s say that you are really struggling to make sense of it all. Let’s say that you can’t think about your future because you are so focused on your past and what was. What your job title was. Where your place of business was. Where your paycheck was. Where your future was. Where your retirement plan was. And now, what was, is no more. So what do you do now?

You start over.

You start again.

You start anew.

You get out of bed.

You stop crying.

You stop calling the person who canned you every nasty name in the book.

You make some phone calls.

You begin to read.

You educate yourself bit-by-bit on 2011 best practices of the job hunt.

You commit to going to your ‘new office’ (the corner of the bedroom) every day from 9-3.

You track yourself on a daily basis to measure how you are doing.

You reach out to someone who loves you and cares about you – unconditionally.

You get some help.

You sleep better.

You write about the lessons you learned from losing your job.

You take out a piece a paper and write down all the stuff you lost….paycheck, laptop, company car, health benefits, and more.

You take out a piece of paper and write down all the stuff you get to keep:

Your knowledge:  you get to keep it.

Your skills:  you get to keep them.

Your abilities:  you get to keep them.

Your talents:  you get to keep them.

Your gifts:  you get to keep them.

Your successes:  you get to keep them.

Your contributions:  you get to keep them.

Your amazing brand:  you get to keep it.

Your amazing brand:  you can always rebrand it.

Your amazing brand:  you can always upgrade it.

Your identity:  you get to redefine it.

Another chance:  if you choose to take it!

Out of the job loss rubble and pile of hurt and pain and tears and upset and frustration and panic and devastation, I hope you will value yourself enough to realize all that you get to keep as you move forward in your reclamation project to a new beginning.